The award-winning Cummings School of Architecture Career Investment Program is engineered to fuel your architectural journey. This program uniquely provides crucial financial backing for both undergraduate and graduate students through on-campus assistantships and coveted off-campus professional internships within leading firms, organizations, and government bodies. By connecting students, the university, industry leaders, and funding sources, the Career Investment Program fosters a dynamic ecosystem that:
- Reinforces Roger Williams University’s educational objectives by harmonizing academic learning with practical service and real-world work experiences.
- Establishes robust financial aid for discipline-specific assistantships and internships both within the university and externally in the professional sector.
- Strengthens vital partnerships between the university and external entities, fostering mutual growth and opportunity.
This program acts as a catalyst, strategically deploying initial financial investments derived from federal, university, and donor contributions. This investment directly supports students collaborating with faculty on groundbreaking research and gaining invaluable professional experience with corporate, non-profit, government, and artistic partners. Students are empowered to pursue compelling research and professional avenues as they progress towards advanced studies and fulfilling career placements, making the Career Investment Program a cornerstone of their professional development.
Explore Investment Opportunities
On-Campus Career Investment Pathways:
- Undergraduate Work Study and Faculty-Led Assignments: Engage in funded positions collaborating with faculty and staff across various departments, enriching your academic experience while contributing to university initiatives.
- Graduate Assistantships and University Initiatives: Secure funded assistantships working alongside faculty and contributing to key Roger Williams University initiatives, such as the Community Partnerships Center and the Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy, gaining experience in research and community engagement.
Off-Campus Career Investment Pathways:
- Undergraduate Work Study with Regional Firms: Access funded assignments with prominent architectural firms in the region, and potentially secure placements closer to home during semester breaks, broadening your professional network and practical skills.
- Graduate Placements Nationally and Internationally: Pursue advanced placements and funded assignments with leading firms and organizations across the region, the United States, and even internationally, gaining diverse perspectives and expanding your global career horizons.
Funding and Compensation Structure
The Career Investment Program is financially supported at both undergraduate and graduate levels through Federal Work Study programs and dedicated university funds. Furthermore, the generosity of donor contributions to the Career Investment Fund significantly enhances the opportunities available to both undergraduate and graduate students, ensuring a wider reach and deeper impact. Current compensation levels are structured as follows:
- Undergraduate Federal Work Study: Students awarded Federal Work Study are compensated at $11.50 per hour for up to 174 hours, totaling approximately $2000 annually, and are eligible for up to 4 years.
- Undergraduate Career Investment Internships (3rd & 4th Year): Juniors and seniors participating in Career Investment Internships are also paid $11.50 per hour for up to 174 hours, roughly $2000 per year. Undergraduates not receiving Federal Work Study are eligible for this opportunity once during their degree program.
- Graduate Student Compensation: Graduate students are compensated at a higher rate of $20 per hour for up to 200 hours, equating to approximately $4000 per year. Funding is adjusted proportionally for students enrolled part-time, ensuring equitable access for all.
Flexible Scheduling for Maximum Engagement
The Career Investment Program operates on a fiscal year cycle, from July 1st to June 30th, providing optimal flexibility for student placements. This calendar framework strategically allows the utilization of funds for student placements both before and in-between the traditional Fall and Spring semesters. This significantly expands off-campus engagement possibilities, enabling students to pursue internships and assistantships during less conventional times, including periods closer to their home locations or at sites across the nation and internationally during semester breaks.
Career Investment Program Partners: A Network of Opportunity
Corporate Partners:
- Gensler, Shanghai
- Safdie Architects, Shanghai
- 3SIX0, Providence
- ADD Inc. / Stantec, Boston
- ACTWO Architects, Wayland, MA
- AJA Architects + Design Build, MA
- Allied Works, Portland, OR
- Amenta Emma Architects, Hartford
- Architecture Outfit, New York
- Bradford Associates, Providence
- BRB Architects, New York
- Brewster Thornton Group, Providence
- Brian Healy Architects, Boston
- Centerbrook Architects and Planning, CT
- designLAB, Boston
- DiBattisto Architects, CT
- Edward Rowse Architects, Providence
- Ellenzweig, Cambridge
- Elkus Manfredi, Boston
- Evelyn Audet Lighting Design, RI
- Frank Karpowicz Architect, RI
- Gary Moyer Architect, MA
- Goody Clancy, Boston
- GMI Architects, Bristol
- Gray Organschi Architecture, New Haven
- HOK, New York
- Kling Stubbins, Boston
- Kohn Pedersen Fox, New York
- Lacuna Design, Providence
- LLB Architects, Pawtucket
- MASS Design, Boston
- Meander Studio, MA
- Nalls Architects, PA
- Newman Architects, New Haven
- Northeast Collaborative Architects, RI, CT
- Oysterworks LLC, RI
- Ralph Fey Architect, PA
- Ruhl Walker, Boston
- Sasaki, Boston
- Sixteen On Center, Tiverton
- Truthbox Architects, Providence
- Thurlow Small Architecture, Pawtucket
- Union Studio, Providence
- Ventrone Architecture LLC, RI
- Vision3 Architects, Providence
- Wodiczko + Bonder, Cambridge
- Zubatkin Owner Representation LLC, New York
Non-Profit and Government Partners:
- American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island
- Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, NY
- Blithewold Mansion and Gardens, Bristol
- Coggeshall Farm Museum, Bristol
- Historic New England, Boston
- Linden Place, Bristol
- Preserve Rhode Island, Providence
- Nat’l Museum of American Illustration, Newport
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Neighbor Works Blackstone Valley, Woonsocket
- Newport Art Museum, Newport
- Newport Restoration Foundation
- Preservation Society of Newport County
- Providence Preservation Society
- RISD Museum of Art
- State of RI Dept. of Facilities Management
- Trinity Church, Newport*
These esteemed firms, organizations, and government entities have all previously hosted paid interns through the Career Investment Program, demonstrating the breadth and depth of available opportunities.
Roger Williams University Partners:
- Architecture Library
- Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy
- Community Partnerships Center
- Cummings School of Architecture Faculty
